Melissa Kraut joins the DePaul School of Music faculty as Professional Lecturer of Cello in fall 2025.
The DePaul University School of Music is proud to announce that Melissa Kraut, most recently co-chair of the Cleveland Institute of Music cello program for 19 years, will join its faculty as Professional Lecturer of cello. She will accept students into the cello studio for the fall of 2025 and take over the studio leadership as esteemed Professor Stephen Balderston retires in June 2025.
"Learning flourishes in an environment of dignity, professionalism, compassion, and safety. From the moment I set foot on the campus of DePaul, I felt a resonant harmony with the community and immediately recognized this as a special place where students thrive," said Kraut. "Joining Dean Milbauer and the exceptional faculty and staff of the DePaul University School of Music is a deep honor. I look forward to building new relationships within the DePaul community. Returning to Chicago brings me home to the city where I first developed my musical voice, and I'm excited to give back to the place where it all began."
Melissa Kraut is recognized as one of the leading pedagogues of her generation. Having developed and trained some of today's outstanding young musicians, she has demonstrated a unique ability to teach all ages and stages of dedicated students, helping them reach their highest potential both at and away from the cello.
School of Music Dean John Milbauer expressed great excitement in welcoming Melissa Kraut to the faculty. "We are thrilled to welcome Melissa Kraut to our faculty at DePaul! Melissa’s extraordinary abilities in shaping the lives of young artists will enrich our faculty and support a primary strategic objective of expanding the excellence of our ensembles. She is the perfect person to build on the studio environment created by Steve Balderston, both nurturing and professional. Not only does she understand music and teaching; she understands people, and that is invaluable to all of us at DePaul.”
With degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music, the University of Iowa, and Northwestern University, Kraut has had the opportunity to study with the great pedagogues Alan Harris and Hans-Jorgen Jensen, as well as summer study/master classes with cellists such as Aldo Parisot and Frank Miller, Yo-Yo Ma, Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi and David Soyer. As a student, she participated in the Aspen Music Festival, Banff Center for the Arts, and the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival in Europe.
Melissa Kraut has led a diverse career on stage, with solo and chamber performances throughout the United States, Europe, China, and Cuba. She has appeared most recently at festivals such as El Paso Pro Musica, Northwest Bach Festival, Sitka Music Festival, Eureka Chamber Music, and as a performer at many summer festivals.
Melissa Kraut's students have achieved great success, with top prizes in International, National, and Regional competitions. Students of Dr. Kraut have won the Gold Medal and Audience Award at the Gaspar Cassado Competition in Hachioji, Japan, Gold Medal at the Carlos Prieto Competition, Semi-Finalists at the Sphinx Competition, Grand Prize in the Music Teachers National Association Competition, First Prize in the American String Teacher's Association, Grand Prize in the Walgreen's Competition, Grand Prize in the Fischoff Competition, as well as awards at the Banff Chamber Music Competition, Melbourne Chamber Music Competition, Hudson Valley Competition, Klein Competition and more.
Melissa Kraut's former students make up members of orchestras such as the Indianapolis Symphony, the Principal of the South Carolina Symphony, the North Carolina Symphony, US Army Strings, and the Knoxville Symphony, as well as orchestras in Europe and China. Other former students hold positions in notable quartets, artistic leadership positions, and as teachers at all levels.
Melissa Kraut's joining the School of Music faculty marks the end of an era in the string area. Stephen Balderston will retire after 25 years of remarkable service to his students and the School of Music. “Prof. Balderston’s extraordinary contributions to the School of Music over two and half decades are immeasurable,” said Milbauer. “He has had a positive influence on countless students, demonstrating that being a world-class musician and a great colleague go hand-in-hand. We are saying ‘Auf wiedersehen’ rather than ‘Goodbye’”!